Catholicism in Vatican City

Upon arrival in Rome, Italy, travel through the ancient city to The Vatican where you’ll check in to your hotel. Enjoy a group lunch at a local dining favorite and indulge your taste-buds in some of Italy’s most delicious foods.

Spend the afternoon exploring St Peter’s Square, a large plaza situated directly in front of St Peter’s Basilica and named after Saint Peter — an apostle of Jesus and thought by some to be the first Pope.

Rise in the morning to a group breakfast served at your hotel and visit with a local guide who will be facilitating your tour to the Sistine Chapel today. Located in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the pope, the Sistine Chapel is mostly famous for the frescos that decorate the interior. The most famous is The Last Judgment by the Italian Renaissance painter, Michelangelo, depicting the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity covering the whole altar wall in the chapel.

Aside from the Sistine Chapel’s incredible frescos, it is also the site of the papal conclave — a process where the new pope is selected.

Spend time at the chapel to ask your local guide questions about Vatican City, Catholicism, philosophies of the Western world and dive deep into learning about this unique cornerstone of the Catholic religion.

Enjoy group breakfast served at the hotel and meet your local guide for the day.

Discover the Gardens of Vatican City today on a private, guided tour of the internationally renowned urban gardens. There is no public access to this fantastic site which takes up 57 acres covering more than half the country. This lush, botanical park also includes statues and fountains giving tribute to and acknowledging historical moments in The Vatican.

Spend today discovering the most renowned piece of renaissance architecture and the world’s largest church. St Peter’s Basilica is considered the holiest shrine in Catholicism and has been described as “holding a unique position in the Christian world”.

Gather for a group dinner at one of The Vatican’s local favorite eateries.

In the morning, enjoy breakfast with your group at the hotel before setting out for a full day exploring the Vatican Museums.

Home of the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums are Christian and art museums in Vatican City featuring some of the world’s greatest pieces of art collected by popes since the early 16th century. Of over 70,000 works of art, only 20,000 are on display. Immerse yourself in the history and aesthetics of centuries past as you learn about the rise of Christianity and Catholicism.

After breakfast, hop on a private shuttle to leave Vatican City and discover the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome, also known as Castel Sant’Angelo. This ancient structure was once the tallest in Rome and was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian for him and his family. Later, it was used by popes as a fortress and currently operates as a museum.

Enjoy a late lunch with your group in Rome before checking in to your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring nearby areas of Rome before your departure home tomorrow.

Enjoy a final group breakfast in the morning before beginning departures home. Depending on your flight, spend your free time exploring the history and incredible sites of Rome!